If you’re familiar with the Rule of Thirds, the Phi Grid (pronounced “pie”), best used for landscapes, will not be a difficult concept. Very similar to the rule of thirds, the phi grid uses the ratio 1:0.618:1 which was derived from the golden ratio. Rather than being divided into equal thirds, the intersecting lines are placed closer to the middle of the frame.
The concept is the same, though. The object is to line up the important parts of your image where the lines of the grid intersect, as shown below.
Phi Grid vs. The Rule of Thirds
As noted above, the Rule of Thirds is a simplified version of the Phi Grid and it’s a good tool to compose your photo, especially when you’re in a hurry. The Phi Grid works well in many situations and using it will allow for an even better image balancing.
Unlike the more popular rule of thirds, the center lines in the Phi Grid are closer together which moves the more important elements of your photo closer to the center.